Akiva Schaffer

Akiva Schaffer
Schaffer at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1977-12-01) December 1, 1977
Berkeley, California, USA
Medium Internet, stand-up, music, television, film
Nationality American
Years active 2001–present
Genres Sketch comedy, Situational comedy, Comedy hip hop
Spouse Liz Cackowski
Children 2
Website thelonelyisland.com

Akiva D. Schaffer[1] (/əˈkiːvə ˈʃæfər/;[2] born December 1, 1977)[1] is an American film director, comedian, producer, writer, and actor. He is a member of the comedy group the Lonely Island.

Life and career

Schaffer was born in Berkeley, California. He Majored in Film at University of California, Santa Cruz.[3] He is one third of the comedy group the Lonely Island.

In the fall of 2005, Schaffer was hired as a writer/director for Saturday Night Live where he directed, co-wrote, and edited the majority of the SNL Digital Shorts. Some notable shorts/songs include "Lazy Sunday", "I Just Had Sex", "Natalie's Rap", "Dick in a Box", "Peyton Manning for the United Way", "Iran So Far", "Jizz in My Pants", "Boombox", "I'm on a Boat", "Great Day", "Threw It on the Ground", "Jack Sparrow", "Like A Boss", "YOLO", "Semicolon", "Dear Sister", "Spring Break Anthem", "Shy Ronnie", and "Ras Trent". Schaffer directed and acted in the film Hot Rod, which starred Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane, and Sissy Spacek, which was produced by SNL's Lorne Michaels. Schaffer directed the film The Watch starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and he also co-directed/wrote/produced and starred in the film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Schaffer was credited as an executive producer on the film MacGruber. The film was co-written and directed by Jorma Taccone.

He also co-directed/created Michael Bolton's Big Sexy Valentine's Day Special for Netflix with Scott Aukerman.

On the Internet, Schaffer got his start directing The Lonely Island's The ’Bu, the group's record-breaking contribution to Channel 101, which was a parody of The OC and also starred Sarah Chalke (Roseanne, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother) as Melissa, as well as Samberg and Taccone. Schaffer has also contributed to several other Channel 101 productions as part of the Lonely Island.

Schaffer directed four music videos for the band We Are Scientists and one for the Eagles of Death Metal.

Personal life

Schaffer is married to comedy writer and actress Liz Cackowski, with whom he has two children.

Awards

In 2007, Schaffer won an Emmy for his participation in the production of "Dick in a Box". He was nominated for an Emmy for the song "Motherlover." He was featured in People's Sexiest Bachelor with Andy Samberg, as Sexiest Best Friends. He has also won two Writers Guild of America Award and a Peabody Award for his work on Saturday Night Live. The Lonely Island was nominated in 2009 for a People's Choice Award and a Grammy Award.

References

  1. 1 2 "Californiabirthindex.org".
  2. ↑ Schaffer, Akiva; Taccone, Jorma (2016). Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Motion picture).
  3. ↑ https://news.ucsc.edu/2015/08/rev-fall-15-alumni-profile-schaffer.html
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